Go with your gut on matters concerning... areas south of the gut

Monday I had my doctors appointment. It was pretty lame; my blood tests are fine. That was it. But because of all the the things I had heard and my doubts about my doctor, I needed to ask some more questions. So I asked about epidurals, episiotomies, induction, and c-sections. It was pretty reassuring as his answers seemed to echo my philosophies and feelings. He doesn't like that the hospital pushed epidurals and pressures women into them early. I agree with that. He says sometimes the nurses push them to make their jobs as labor coaches easier. This makes sense then why the nurse didn't like him and said he yelled at the nurses. If he knows that his patients want to do natural labor and then the nurses convince her to do something else, no wonder he yells at them. Everything he said made perfect sense. I think it'd be silly for me to switch. Plus, another good point he made is that since he is in private practice, I'm guaranteed to get him in delivery, not someone who doesn't know me or how I feel. He knows not to even suggest inducing unless it is very necessary. And, I won't be induced to make sure the baby is born on his shift so that he gets paid for it.

On another note, I just finished another documentary: Word Wars. I've been watching documentaries alot lately. This one is about Scrabble tournament competitors. It was interesting. This one guy, G. I. Joel (cause he has GI issues and gulps Maloxx) was awesomely geeky. Several of the people didn't have actual jobs. They dedicate hours a day to practicing Scrabble and memorizing words and letter combinations. I cried when they showed the winner. I'm hormonal.

Odyssey of the (hormones) Mind

The odyssey has come to an end. My team and I went to the State competition in Traverse City on Saturday and competed against the best in the state. I didn't have really high expectations, but I had hoped the kids would place in the top 6. Unfortunately, they did not. They didn't feel very good about the spontaneous portion and I don't even know what their problem was (we're not aloud to talk about it until after the awards and then we were too tired).

It was an early and long day; I left GR at about 6:30 am and didn't get back until 11:00 pm. It was actually a very good day and I very much enjoy my kids. They are crazy and weird and hyperactive, but that's why I love them. Carter's parents had a motorhome that they so graciously took up north with all the kids and set and props. It was a great plan as we pretty much hung out in the motor home all day. The kids watched movies (they are almost all in the musical "Guys and Dolls") and we got pizza.

It can be intimidating to hand around parents, but these people are so cool. Great, supportive parents, who really know and understand their kids (as much as can bge understood at this age). I really did have a good day. And I'm so proud of those kids; they did a nice job.

There was an extra bonus; the mom that I rode up to Traverse with turns out to be a labor and delivery nurse. We talked labor and delivery the whole ride up and most of the way home. She was super nice and cool and unfortunately, I found out that my doctor is not the best, in her opinion. She actually recommended switching and said that they are very few doctors she'd say that about, but mine is one of them. I'm not sure what to do. I have a doc's appt. tomorrow and I'm sure I'll go to it. My doc has always been respectful to me, but apparently is awful to the nurses and staff. Of course, doctors are often assholes who have a power struggle with the nurses. So a bad review from a nurse for personality isn't too bad...but then again, she seemed pretty adamant. I really pressed her for info, but it sounds like he is fine with patients, and not dangerous or anything, just a jerk. I don't want him to be a jerk to me, though! She is going to send her kid with a list of doctors for me on Monday and I'll have to decide what to do about it. I'll play a Scarlett O'Hara and "I'll think about it tomorrow".

The Last Dance

Well, tonight I did my last performance at Mezze, at least the last for some time. It was for a private party and it was nice since it was at 5:30 and I didn't have to stay up late! It is sad, but I'm glad. I've got other stuff to do.

Today, for the first time this year, I wanted to do yardwork. I usually am so eager to start working on my garden I'm out while the snow is melting. But this year, with the tired and the sick, I have been thinking that it sounded like alot of extra work. Which it is, but I usually enjoy it. So today, when I had to leave for the performance all I wanted to do was clean up the yard.

This is with the exception of the pond. That thing is full of dead fish, rotting leaves, and downright nasty. Don't really want to work with that right now, but clearing away leaves doesn't sound too bad.

Tomorrow I go to Traverse City for my kids' OM team state competition. Thankfully, after that, it is all done :-)

Update

I guess blogging is easiest when one is complaining. Does this explain why Jason never writes?

The answer to the bellydance dilema: my last regular Thursday night performance at Mezze was last week. This week I'm doing a private show there and I'm doing a performance at some Women's fesival May 3. That is it and I'm glad for it. Last week, at the end of the show, we were grooving and I suddenly felt totally overheated and sick and had to leave. I guess that is sort of normal, getting hot easily and tired out.

Right now I'm in a big watermelon and strawberry phase. I ate a half of a large watermelon last night for dinner. I'd hoped it would get things...moving, but the effects are yet to be seen. Who knew pregnancy was accompanied by EVERY manner of intestinal discomfort and ailment. But that watermelon was so COLD and SWEET and yummy! And strawberries....aren't they the most amazing tasting food? Incredible! I eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

THe good news is that fruit is good for me anyway, the bad news is that the rest of my diet isn't always so good. Basically when 6:00 hits I feel absolutely disgusted by food. All food. Dave makes his dinner while I try not to vomit. I usually make it to about 8:30 and then I feel REALLY sick and decide I have to eat something. Then I'll have whatever; potato chips, a bag of popcorn, french onion soup. Anything that is quick. Then I feel slightly better but unhappy until bedtime.

I'm trying to wean myself from my naps. I'm still tired, but hte weather is so darn beautiful that I need to rejoin the world of the living. I'm not as tired as before, when I nap was without question necessary (I was afraid of falling asleep behind the wheel driving home from school).

So overall: week 12 starts tomorrow, sick, less tired, psychologically a mess (I'll explain some of that some other time).

Indecision is a symptom of pregnancy

I did read that indecision is "common" in early pregnancy. Probably because pregnancy occurs in women. Duh. Well, I don't think this is due to pregnancy, but I am on the horns of a dilema. Last night I went to see the Wednesday night belly dance show where I perform. I was told that this new performer and her troupe were "tribal" and different than the cabaret style that I do. Well last night it looked like our perfromance, but not as good. The costumes were nice, similar to ours, the music was good, they used several of the same songs we use, but it just didn't have the same exciting feel. I met Laura, my dancing boss, to see the show. While there, she asks me if I'm planning on going to the April 22 workshop or the May Manistee Women's festival. Well, I thought I wasn't dancing anymore after tonight. In fact, it was Laura that told me I couldn't dance anymore because she didn't want to have to deal with my drama of making a decision about stopping, so she decided for me.

Hmmm. Don't bring me there...not to that place where I have to decide. I'm no good at this stuff. I asked her what's going on, didn't she want no drama, blah, blah, and she says yeah, well, now that I have a plan for without you, I'm all set, if you want to come back and dance some you can. Oh, and you don't have to learn any new dances (though I do want to learn that damned sword dance since I have the damned sword). Oh, then she pulls out the big guns and says, "it is partly for selfish reasons, you are so beautiful and I want you to dance with us because you look so good". That's it. She's found my weakness. Flattery?! Whatever you want. You like me! You really like me!

Reasons to keep dancing:
1. making money
2. get to wear newly purchased never-been-worn costume before I balloon up
3. Exercise, stay in shape
4. Probably not going to hurt my or baby Baker
5. Pride and I like it
6.Not much time left (only til about June) while I can and it'll be easier to come back after baby the longer I do it.
7. I'm pretty :-)

Reasons to stop:
1. My doctor thinks I should, though he admittedly doesn't really know.
2. Morning sickness, afternoon sickness, evening sickness
3. Fridays at school suck with little sleep.
4. Additional committments to Saturdays, performance days, etc.

PLEASE HELP! I can't make up my mind. The reasons why not list is short, but important. And someone thinks I'm pretty!

Tough day

Yesterday was a rough one. Started off pretty badly when I drank a bunch of tea in the morning. It tasted great and soothed my sore throat, but I forgot to eat breakfast. Just as I realized my error I was sent to the bathroom to vomit. In between bouts, I had my husband put cream cheese on a bagel for me and then I ate it next to the toilet, just in case. But I did feel better after eating.

The rest of the day I did nothing. Laying on the couch, napping, laying on the couch some more. I finally left the house at 7 to go out to eat. Then I went to Schuler to get some books. I got George Carlin's Brain Droppings and a book by Dave Barry. I also got a fine trashy romance with a Norse theme. That's why I got it. Anything with Prince Olaf in it...gotta be great.

So my big plans today are: shower, don't puke, maybe nap later. Life is just thrilling right now. At least when I was at the bookstore I read a book about morning sickness and it looks like mine isn't so bad. I read about a woman who had it so bad she was in the hospital five times for dehydration and ended up terminating the pregnancy because she was so miserable. There was another woman who could only breathe cold air. Warm air made her vomit. So she sequestered herself in her room with the air conditioner on for months and only ate cold melon. So I guess it isn't so bad. But it sure as heck could be better.